Now that the Web.com Tour finals are behind us and the 2013-2014 PGA Tour cards have been handed out. There were many, many different opinions on how this format differed from the previous format, including the PGA Tour "Q-School".
There seemed to be a little more confusion with the new format, as there tends to be with something new. Though the new system did not seem that far off base, when it comes to the PGA Tour wanting to award players the privilege of playing on their top stage.
Eddie Lee carded an opening round 9-under 63, to take the lead by two strokes in the 2013 Testoril Tour Championship on the Hopkins Golf Peach State Tour.
Lee, beginning on No. 10 this morning at The Georgia Club in Statham, Ga. would come out birdie hunting early in his round. Carding four in a row, quickly moving him to 4-under par.
Another birdie on the par-5, 16th saw him make the turn in 33.
Eagling the Par-5, first, would see Lee go even deeper on his round -- Taking his score to 6-under par. Equaling the early round lead of Kyle Thompson.
Two more birdies on Nos. three and four saw Lee's score go to 9-under and to the out right lead. Parring in from No. 5 on and keeping a clean card have Lee sitting atop the leaderboard after one round.
Matt Ryan carded a final round 1-under, 71 holding off hard chargers Taylor Floyd and Sam Beach to claim the eGolf Pro Tour's Columbia Classic.
The former Fresno State standout is no rookie when it comes to closing the deal in final rounds. The Santa Clarita, Ca. native has already notched two wins on the eGolf Tour. In 2011 at the Spring Creek Classic, his first career win. As well as capturing the Championship at River Run, last season.
Ryan held the 36-hole lead after carding opening rounds of 63 and 68.
The European Tour has never seen a 59 carded in an official event. There have been 17, 60's carded, though the Holy Grail of scores has eluded the Tour.
24-year old American Peter Uihlein had a shot, all be it, a 40 foot shot at an eagle on the par-5, 9th (his 18th) at European Tour history.
Having already carded two eagles on the day, Uihlein bombed his driver off the tee, piping it right down the center of the fairway. His second shot found the green, leaving him some 40 foot away for an eagle putt -- And a shot at history.
Uihlein's putt tracked the hole all the way across the green. However, it was not meant to be. Missing the cup on the left side.
After taking a four shot lead into the final round of the inaugural eGolf Pro Tour West event at Southern Dunes. Jason Allred stumbled in his final round, posting a 1-over, 73. Eventually finishing three shots behind the winner, Ryan Dillon.
Dillon, who opened with back-to-back rounds of 69, went deep in today's final round. Carding a bogey free 9-under, 63. Winning the Championship at Southern Hills by two strokes over Michael Derminio.
The Anthem, Az. resident is not new to success on Tour. In 2012, Dillon played in seven events on the Gateway Tour, earning two victories in those seven starts. As well as never finishing outside the top-20.
Dillon began the final round, six strokes off the pace Allred set at 13-under, needing something low to even catch the leaders to give himself a chance. He did more than that.
Jason Allred went birdie hunting in round two of the inaugural event of the eGolf Pro Tour West event at Southern Dunes. His second round 9-under, 63 vaulted him to a four shot lead over round one co-leader, Nathan Tyler.
Allen, has also teed it up in 10 events this season on the Web.com Tour, making the cut in five of those events.
His best result, T6 at the Albertson's Boise Open, where he once again went low in the second round (63), on his way to earning $23,443.75.
Nathan Tyler and Kevin Lucas fired opening rounds of 7-under, 65's to share the lead at the inaugural eGolf Tour West event at Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Arizona.
The Southern Dunes event is the first of 20 events scheduled on the new West region of the eGolf Professional Tour. Dubbed eGolf Pro Tour West. This new series will feature events throughout the states of California, Nevada and Arizona.
Tyler, a former University of Arizona Cardinal and Freeport, Texas native. Has teed it up in three Web.com Tour events in 2013, before his eGolf West debut at Southern Dunes. Making the cut in one of those events, a T15 finish at the Air Capital Classic.
Following Steve Stricker around a golf course, you would never know where he stood on the leaderboard at anytime. The subdued, laid back Midwesterner keeps his nerves in check no matter where he is in a tournament.
In 2013, you needn't look far down most leaderboards. As Stricker was near the top of most events he pegged it up in this season.
The 12 time PGA Tour winner played an abbreviated schedule in 2013, teeing it up in only 13 events. Though he made the most of every start he made.
Stricker finished off his season with nine top-10 finishes, including three runner-ups at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, WGC Cadillac Championship, Deutsche Bank Championship and the Tour Championship.
Eden, North Carolina native and former University of Virginia Cavalier Bruce Woodall, is having himself a breakout year in 2013 on the eGolf Professional Tour.
The 24-year old is currently sitting atop the money list, having earned $64,037.50 in 17 events so far in 2013. In those 17 events, Woodall has racked up two victories (Spring Creek Classic & River Hills Classic), six top-5's and eight top-10 finishes. Missing the cut just twice in those 17 events.
Entering his first full season on the eGolf Tour, Woodall played behind some pretty stiff competition while at Virginia. Playing behind current PGA Tour player Ben Kohles and another eGolf Tour standout in Will Collins.
Beginning this season on the PGA Tour with no status what-so-ever. Jordan Spieth put together a rookie campaign in 2013, that may not rival say Keegan Bradley's 2011 season. Though it does make you perk your head up to have a better look at this 20-year old from Dallas, Texas.
Sure, winning the John Deere doesn't compare to winning the Wannamaker trophy, as Bradley did in his rookie year.
However, as is the case in most sports. It's not how you start, rather how you finish off the year, that people remember you for.
At one point in 2012, Henrik Stenson was ranked 230th in the Official World Golf Rankings. Falling from near the top at number five in the World in 2009, after his win at The Players.
Heading into the FedEx Cup playoffs, Stenson had two PGA Tour wins to his name. The last, being at the 2009 Players. Now the 37 year old Swede tacked on two more PGA Tour wins in the span of three weeks.
Winning the second FedEx Cup playoff event, and capping it off with his wire-to-wire win on Sunday. Claiming his fourth PGA Tour win, the FedEx Cup and of course -- The $11.4-Million payday that commanded.
Stenson's streak of great golf can go all the way back The Open Championship where he finished in a tie for second. Another T2 at the WGC-Bridgestone, third at the PGA Championship. And of course, his lights out playing in the FedEx Cup playoffs. Which saw him go:
Henrik Stenson, after a shaky back nine on Saturday. Is four strokes clear; at 11-under, of Dustin Johnson heading into the final round of the 2013 FedEx Cup, Tour Championship. 18 holes away from clinching the FedEx Cup, and the $10-million pay day that comes along with it.
Beginning the day at 10-under par. Stenson would start out hot on the front nine, carding four birdies. Going out in 31 and taking his score to 14-under for the tournament.
The back nine is where things started to get a little shaky for Stenson.
Professional golf has many levels, many tours and many success stories and failures. Guys are teeing it up seemingly every day on some mini tour, in some town you've probably never even heard of, or knew existed.
That's part of what makes golf and golfers such great stories. Not every golfer goes straight to the PGA Tour and to the millions of dollars that are up for grabs. There are thousands of golfers, grinding it out on golf's mini tour's smaller stages.
Hopkinston, Mass. native Jon Curran joined the NGA Tour (formerly the Hooters Tour) in 2009, after a collegiate career at Vanderbilt University. Where he holds the Vanderbilt 54 hole (-15) and 72 hole (-4) scoring records and his 8th place finish at the 2007 NCAA D-1 national tournament is the highest finish in the NCAA finals in Vanderbilt history.
Although not on the big stage of the PGA Tour just yet. Curran did rack up three wins in 13 starts on the NGA Tour in 2013. Finishing seventh or better in seven events. Winning the money title ($99,718.22), and last but certainly not least. The 2013 NGA Tour Player of the Year award.
Tiger Woods, in need of a bounce back round at East Lake in round two of the Tour Championship. Did not help his cause for a third (2007 & 2009) FedEx Cup title. After carding a 3-over 73 in his opening round on Thursday.
Beginning his round some five strokes off the lead. Woods began the day with a lot of promise. After opening with two straight pars. He was finally into red numbers for the first time at East Lake this week with a birdie on the par-4, third.
Back-to-back birdies on No. 8 and No. 9 had him making the turn at 32. Three-under on his round and back to Even par for the tournament.
His promising round would continue on the back nine.
Starting off just as he did off the front. Woods carded pars on No. 10 and No. 11. Another pair of birdies on No.'s 12 and 13; both par fours, would see his score dip into red numbers even further. He now set at 5-under on his round. And 2-under for the tournament.
